North Carolina's stronger price gouging law will take effect if a state of emergency or disaster is declared due to Tropical Storm Hanna, Attorney General Roy Cooper notified businesses and consumers today.

"We're sending out a clear signal to price gougers that they'd better not try to use this storm as an excuse to make an unfair profit at consumers' expense," said Cooper.

Price gouging-or charging too much in times of crisis-is against North Carolina law when a disaster, an emergency or an abnormal market disruption for critical goods and services is declared or proclaimed by the Governor. The price gouging law, which Cooper helped beef up in 2006, also applies to all levels of the supply chain from the manufacturer to the distributor to the retailer.

Cooper also warned consumers to avoid scams that may follow the storm.

"Getting hit by a scam is the last thing people need when they're trying to keep their families safe and clean up their homes and businesses," said Cooper. "Don't let hit and run scammers talk you out of your money."

The vast majority of contractors, tree removal companies and car repair shops in North Carolina are good business people, and many local merchants pitch in to help their community recover from disaster. However, some unscrupulous people travel to areas that have been hit by natural disasters to take advantage of consumers, Cooper warned. North Carolina residents can report scams and frauds to Cooper's office by calling toll-free 1-877-5-NO-SCAM within the state.

Cooper offered the following tips to consumers:

• Be Safe. Do not attempt to move downed power lines. Call your utility company immediately for assistance.
• Contact your insurance company. Some insurance companies require an adjuster's approval before work can be done. Take pictures and videos, if possible, of the damage. Cover holes in your roof or walls with a tarp if you can do so safely to prevent additional damage.
• Do not pay for work up front. Inspect the work and make sure you are satisfied before you pay. A reasonable down payment may be required for some projects, but don't pay anything without getting a written contract. Avoid paying with cash; use a check or a credit card instead.
• Beware of any contractor who tries to rush you or who comes to your home offering assistance. If an offer is only good now or never, find someone else to do the work. Ask friends, neighbors, co-workers and other people you know for recommendations.
• Get three written estimates for the work, if possible, and compare bids. Check credentials and contact the Attorney General's Office and the Better Business Bureau to learn about any complaints against the contractor. Before work starts, get a written contract detailing all the work to be done, costs and a completion date.
• For car repairs, shop around and compare written estimates. On major jobs, get a second opinion. If the mechanic recommends replacing parts, ask for the old parts. You may receive credit on some parts if the mechanic wants to keep them.
• Watch out for price gouging. The Attorney General's Office can put a stop to price gouging and seek refunds for consumers who paid too much. The courts may also impose civil penalties against price gougers of up to $5,000 for each violation.
• Beware of charity scams that might use recent storms to make their phony pleas for donations sound more plausible. If a caller refuses to answer your questions about the charity, offers to come to pick up a donation in person or asks for a credit card, bank account or Social Security number, it may be a scam. To report telemarketing fraud, call the Attorney General's Office. To check up on a charity, call the Secretary of State's office toll¬free at (888) 830¬4989.